Covering for a floral grouping or flower pot

ABSTRACT

A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/007,880filed Dec. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,651 which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 09/717,785, filed Nov. 21, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,393,801, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/185,763, filedNov. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,903, which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 08/764,479, filed Dec. 12, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No.5,829,225, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/608,390,filed Feb. 28, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,146, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/457,186, filed Jun. 1, 1995, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,572,849, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/386,859,filed Feb. 10, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078, filed May 3, 1994, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser.No. 08/220,852, filed Mar. 31, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,851.

Each of these patent applications and patents is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to sleeves, and more particularly, tosleeves used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/ormediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a detaching element andbonding material constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations have a scalloped pattern.

FIG. 2B is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations have an inverted scalloped pattern.

FIG. 2C is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations have a wave pattern.

FIG. 2D is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations have a zig-zag pattern.

FIG. 2E is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations have a rectangular pattern.

FIG. 2F is an elevational view of a version of a sleeve wherein theperforations are diagonally slanted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the version of the sleeve of FIG. 3taken along line 4—4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve with a release materialdisposed on a bonding material.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a version of a sleeve havingstaggered areas of bonding material on inner surfaces thereof.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternate version of the sleeve ofthe present invention wherein areas of bonding material are disposedupon portions of an outer surface of the sleeve.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 7 having abonding material disposed on both sides of the sleeve.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 8 taken alongline 9—9 thereof.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate version of the sleeveof FIG. 8 wherein release material is disposed upon the areas of bondingmaterial.

FIG. 11A is an elevational view, partially in cross-section, of a pottedplant disposed within a sleeve such as the sleeve shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 11B is an elevational view, partially in cross-section, of a pottedplant disposed within a sleeve such as the sleeve shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a potted plant having a sleeve crimpedthereabout.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve crimped about a pot.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 13 where bonding material is disposed on aninner surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve in FIG. 3.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 13 where bonding material is disposed on anouter surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve in FIG. 8.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve crimped about a pot in analternate style.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 16 where bonding material is disposed on aninner surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve in FIG. 3.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 16 where bonding material is disposed on theouter surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve in FIG. 8.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve crimped about a pot in yetanother style.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 19 where bonding material is disposed on aninner surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve in FIG. 3.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve crimped about a pot in yetanother style in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 21 where bonding material is disposed on aninner surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve of FIG. 3.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve crimped about a pot instill another style in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged, fragmental cross-sectional view of one of thecrimped folds shown in FIG. 23 where bonding material is disposed on anouter surface of the sleeve such as with the sleeve of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention contemplates a plant packaging system comprising asleeve having a combination of an upper portion which is protective anda lower portion which is decorative and has a base portion andoptionally a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant. The upperportion can be detached from the lower portion of the package systemonce the function of the upper portion has been completed, therebyexposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion, ifpresent, to extend outwardly from the base portion. The upper portionand lower portion components may comprise a unitary construction or maycomprise separate components which are attached together by variousbonding materials. The sleeve also has a bonding material thereon forforming a crimped portion which holds the sleeve about a pot withoutbonding the sleeve to the pot.

The upper portion may be detachable via a detaching element such asperforations, tear strips and zippers. The sleeve may have an extendedportion extending from the upper portion for serving as a handle orsupport device.

A preferred version of the invention is a flexible sleeve whichcomprises a flattened body having a closed or open lower end, an openupper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surfacesurrounding an inner retaining space. The sleeve further comprises, asnoted above and discussed in further detail below, a lower portionhaving an inner retaining space for enclosing the pot and an upperportion connected to the lower portion and sized to substantiallysurround and encompass the floral grouping when the pot and floralgrouping are disposed within the sleeve, wherein the upper portion isdetachable from the lower portion via a detaching element such asperforations positioned in a predetermined pattern. A bonding materialis disposed upon a portion of the inner peripheral surface, the outerperipheral surface or both surfaces. The bonding material is forbondingly connecting folded portions of the sleeve when the sleeve isopened and the pot is disposed within the inner retaining space whichthereby hold the lower portion of the sleeve in a position about the potand the upper portion of the sleeve in a position about the floralgrouping.

The sleeve may further comprise a release material for preventing thebonding material from bondingly connecting to an opposing portion of thesleeve or to a surface thereof. A closure bonding material may bedisposed upon the upper portion near the upper end for sealing the upperend of the sleeve for enclosing the floral grouping within the upperportion. The upper portion may further comprise apertures for enablingventilation of the enclosed floral grouping.

The flattened body may be further defined as having a first side whichhas a first edge, a second edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outersurface and an inner surface, a second side which has a first edge, asecond edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface and an innersurface, and wherein in a flattened condition of the sleeve, the innersurface of the first side rests flatwise upon the inner surface of thesecond side and the first edge of the first side is sealed to the firstedge of the second side and the second edge of the first side is sealedto the second edge of the second side.

Further detail and explanation of the articles and methods of thepresent invention are forthcoming in the description provided below.

Embodiments of FIGS. 1-12

Shown in FIGS. 1, 3-6 and designated therein by the general referencenumeral 10 is a flexible bag or sleeve of unitary construction. Thesleeve 10 initially comprises a flexible flattened piece of materialwhich is openable into the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve 10 ispreferably tapered outwardly from the lower end toward a larger diameterat its upper end as shown in FIG. 1, or may be cylindrical. In itsflattened state the sleeve 10 may have an overall trapezoidal, modifiedtrapezoidal or contoured (non-linear) shape, and when opened isgenerally substantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will beappreciated, however, that the sleeve 10 may comprise variations on theaforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes suchas square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve 10 when opened has acylindrical form, as long as the sleeve 10 functions in accordance withthe present invention in the manner described herein.

The sleeve 10 has an upper end 12, a lower end 14, an outer peripheralsurface 16 and in its flattened state has a sealed first edge 18 and asealed second edge 20 and a first side 22 and a second side 24. Thesleeve 10 has an opening 25 (FIG. 3) at the upper end 12 and in oneversion of the invention has a closed bottom at the lower end 14.Preferably the lower end 14 when closed has a gusset 26 but it maysimply be sealed along an edge. The first side 22 has a first innerperipheral surface 28 and the second side 24 has a second innerperipheral surface 30 which together, when the sleeve 10 is opened,define and encompass an inner retaining space 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 and4. When the lower end 14 of the sleeve 10 has a closed bottom, a portionof the lower end 14 may be inwardly folded to form one or more gussets26, as noted above, for permitting a circular bottom of an object suchas a pot 56 to be disposed into the inner retaining space 32 and on thelower end 14 of the sleeve 10. When present, the gusset 26 may be astandard straight gusset forming a straight bottom edge on the sleeve 10or the gusset 26 may have a rounded portion such as is shown anddescribed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/401,771, the specification and drawings ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.

The sleeve 10 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve 10may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical,frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, orany other shape, as long as the sleeve 10 functions as described hereinas noted above. Further, the sleeve 10 may comprise any shape, whethergeometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as itfunctions in accordance with the present invention. In a preferredembodiment the sleeve 10 is oversized. Where used herein the term“oversized” means that the portion of the sleeve 10 adjacent the pot 56comprises an excess amount of material sufficient for forming thecrimped portion. The sleeve 10 may also be equipped with drains orventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable orimpermeable materials.

The material from which the sleeve 10 is constructed preferably has athickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils, although insome cases the sleeve 10 may be much thicker, especially when the sleeve10 is constructed from multiple layers. Often, the thickness of thesleeve 10 is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. Preferably,the sleeve 10 has a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5mils. More preferably, the sleeve 10 is constructed from material whichis flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeve10 may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality oflayers of the same or different types of materials. Any thickness of thematerial may be utilized as long as the material functions in accordancewith the present invention as described herein. The layers of materialcomprising the sleeve 10 may be connected together or laminated or maybe separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeve 10 aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping AFloral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material maybe utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as thesleeve 10 may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formedsleeve 10 may contain at least a portion of the pot 56 or potted plant57 or a floral grouping 58, as described herein. Additionally, aninsulating material such as bubble film, preferable as one of two ormore layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protectionfor the item, such as the floral grouping 58, contained therein.

In one embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from twopolypropylene films. The polypropylene films comprising the sleeve 10may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In analternative embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from only oneof the polypropylene films.

The sleeve 10 may also be constructed, in whole or in part, from a clingmaterial. “Cling Wrap or Material” when used herein means any materialwhich is capable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itselfupon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappableabout an item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engageand connect to other portions of another material, or, alternatively,itself, for generally securing the material wrapped about at least aportion of the pot 56. This connecting engagement is preferablytemporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e., the clingmaterial “clings” to the pot 56.

The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, frompolyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation,Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, dependupon the size of sleeve 10 and the size of the pot 56 in the sleeve 10,i.e., generally, a larger pot 56 may require a thicker and thereforestronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness fromless than about 0.1 mil to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may beutilized in accordance with the present invention which permits thecling material to function as described herein.

The sleeve 10 is constructed from any suitable material that is capableof being formed into the sleeve 10 and wrapped about the pot 56 and thefloral grouping 58 disposed therein. Preferably, the material comprisespaper (untreated or treated in any manner), metal foil, polymeric film,non-polymeric film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural),cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.

The term “polymeric film” means a man-made polymer such as apolypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. Apolymeric film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing(substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.

The material comprising the sleeve 10 may vary in color and may consistof designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/orembossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example ofan ink which may be applied to the surface of the material is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706 entitled “Water Based Ink On Foil And/OrSynthetic Organic Polymer” issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, the material may have various coloring, coatings, flockingand/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentationapplied separately or simultaneously or may be characterized totally orpartially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, orthe like, qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occuralone or in combination and may be applied to the material comprisingthe sleeve 10. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructingthe sleeve 10 may vary in the combination of such characteristics. Thematerial utilized for the sleeve 10 itself may be opaque, translucent,transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent.

It will generally be desired to use the sleeve 10 as a covering for thepotted plant 57 such as is well known in the art. The term “pot 56” asused herein refers to any type of container used for holding a floralgrouping or plant. Examples of pots 56, used in accordance with thepresent invention include, but not by way of limitation, clay pots,wooden pots, plastic pots, pots made from natural and/or syntheticfibers, or any combination thereof. The pot 56 is adapted to receive thefloral grouping 58 in the retaining space. The floral grouping 58 may bedisposed within the pot 56 along with a suitable growing mediumdescribed in further detail below, or other retaining medium, such as afloral foam. It will also be understood that the floral grouping 58, andany appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may bedisposed in the sleeve 10 without the pot 56.

The term “floral grouping 58” as used herein means cut fresh flowers,artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/or artificialplants or other floral materials and may include other secondary plantsand/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to theaesthetics of the overall floral grouping 58. The floral grouping 58comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Further, thefloral grouping 58 may comprise a growing potted plant 57 having a rootportion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated that thefloral grouping 58 may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage,or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term“floral grouping 58” may be used interchangeably herein with both theterms “floral arrangement” and “potted plant”. The term “floral grouping58” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanicalitem” and/or “propagule.”

The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid, solid orgaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivation ofpropagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural or artificialherbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term“botanical item” also means any portion or portions of natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves, flowers,blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or in combination,or in groupings of such portions such as a bouquet or the floralgrouping 58.

The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capable ofbeing propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds,shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

In accordance with the present invention, a bonding material 34 isdisposed on a portion of the sleeve 10 to assist in holding the sleeve10 about the pot 56 having the floral grouping 58 therein when the pot56 is disposed within the sleeve 10. An additional bonding material (notshown) may be disposed upon a portion of the sleeve 10 to assist inclosing the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10 after the pot 56 has beendisposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.

It will be understood that the bonding material 34 may be disposed as astrip or block on a surface of the sleeve 10 as is described in moredetail herein. The bonding material 34 may also be disposed upon eitherthe first side 22, the second side 24, the first inner peripheralsurface 28, or the second inner peripheral surface 30 of the sleeve 10.Further, the bonding material 34 may be disposed as spots of bondingmaterial, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, orfanciful form and in any pattern including covering either the entirefirst and second inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 and/or outerperipheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 and/or the pot 56.

The bonding material 34 may be covered by a cover material or releasestrip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve 10, or the pot56. The bonding material 34 can be applied by methods known to those ofordinary skill in their art. One method for disposing a bondingmaterial, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued toWeder et al., on May 12, 1992, which has been incorporated by referenceabove.

The term “bonding material” when used herein means an adhesive,frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive which bonds onlyto a surface having another such cohesive thereon. The term “bondingmaterial” also includes materials which are heat sealable and, in thisinstance, the adjacent portions of the material must be brought intocontact and then heat must be applied to effect the seal. The term“bonding material” also includes materials which are sonic sealable andvibratory sealable. The term “bonding material” when used herein alsomeans a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be appliedto the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations,also must be applied to effect the sealing.

Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bondingmaterial 34. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate,acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold sealadhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause aresidue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much morerapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles andreducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect theseal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material toform and retain the desired shape is reduced. A cold seal adhesive bindsquickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readilyreleasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, apressure sensitive adhesive.

Certain versions of the sleeve 10 described herein may be used inconjunction with a preformed plant cover as explained in greater detailbelow.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred version of the invention, the sleeve10 is demarcated into an upper portion 36 and a lower portion 38. Asnoted above, the lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10 is oversized, that isit is generally sized to be at least slightly larger than the size ofthe pot 56 to be placed within the lower portion 38 to enable the lowerportion 38 to be crimped about an outer peripheral surface 59 of the pot56. The lower portion 38 may have a height equal to or greater than theheight of the pot 56 disposed within the sleeve 10. The upper portion 36may optionally have apertures 39 near the upper end 12 thereof forallowing the sleeve 10 to be supported by a support mechanism such as apair of wickets (not shown) such as is known in the art. The upperportion 36 of the sleeve 10 is generally sized to substantially surroundand encompass the floral grouping 58 of the potted plant 57 disposedwithin the lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 isdemarcated into the upper portion 36 and the lower portion 38 by adetaching element 40 for enabling the detachment of the upper portion 36of the sleeve 10 from the lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10. In anotherversion of the present invention, the sleeve 10 may be comprised only ofthe lower portion 38 which generally encompasses only the pot 56 and mayextend about a lower portion of the floral grouping 58, i.e., there isno upper portion 36 for substantially surrounding and encompassing thefloral grouping 58. In the version shown in FIG. 1, the detachingelement 40 is a plurality of perforations which extend across the outerperipheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 from the first edge 18 to thesecond edge 20.

The term “detaching element” as used generally herein, means anyelement, or combination of elements, or features, such as, but notlimited to, perforations, tear strips, tear starts, zippers, and anyother devices or elements of this nature known in the art, or anycombination thereof, which enable or facilitate the tearing away ordetachment of one object from another. Therefore, while perforations areshown and described in detail herein, it will be understood that tearstrips, zippers, or any other “detaching elements” known in the art, orany combinations thereof, could be substituted therefor and/or usedtherewith. The sleeve 10 may comprise drainage or ventilation holes (notshown) in the upper or lower portions 36 or 38, respectively, forallowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the innerretaining space 32 of the sleeve 10.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the detaching element 40leaves a straight edge when detached. In any event, once the upperportion 36 is detached, the lower portion 38 comprises a base portion 42and may leave a skirt portion if the detaching element is not straight.Shown in FIGS. 2A-2F are sleeves 10 a-10 f which are like sleeve 10except each has an alternative arrangement of perforations for enablingseparation of the upper portion 36 of the sleeve 10 a-10 f from thelower portion 38 wherein a skirt portion 44 a-44 f is left extendingabove the pot. FIG. 2A shows the sleeve 10 a having a detaching element40 a comprising perforations having a scalloped pattern. FIG. 2B showsthe sleeve 10 b which has a detaching element 40 b comprisingperforations having an upside-down, or inverted, scalloped pattern. FIG.2C shows the sleeve 10 c which has a detaching element 40 c comprisingperforations having a wavy or sine-wave type pattern. FIG. 2D shows thesleeve 10 d which has a detaching element 40 d having a toothed orzig-zag perforation pattern.

FIG. 2E shows the sleeve 10 e which has a detaching element 40 ecomprising perforations having a rectangular pattern. Shown in FIG. 2Fis the sleeve 10 f having a detaching element 40 f which comprisesperforations having a diagonally-oriented pattern. Each of thesesleeves, as for the other sleeves described herein, may have avertically-oriented line of perforations or other detaching elementextending from the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10-10 f to the other lineof perforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion 36.

The base portion 12 comprises that part of the lower portion 38 which,when the pot 56 is placed into the lower portion 38, has an innerperipheral surface which is substantially adjacent to and surrounds theouter peripheral surface 59 of the pot 56. The skirt portion 44comprises that part of the lower portion 38 which extends beyond anupper rim 59 a of the pot 56 and adjacent at least a portion of thefloral grouping 58 contained within the pot 56, generally the lowerportion of the floral grouping 58, and which is left to freely extendstraight from or at angle, inwardly or outwardly, from the base portion42 when the upper portion 36 of the sleeve 10 is detached from the lowerportion 38 of the sleeve 10 by actuation of the detaching element 40. Inthe intact sleeve 10, the skirt portion 44 a-44 f, as shown in FIGS.2A-2F, comprises an upper peripheral edge 46 a-46 f, respectively,generally congruent with the detaching element 40 a-40 f which isconnected to a lower peripheral edge 48 a-48 f of the upper portion 36of the sleeve 10 a-10 f also congruent with the detaching element 40a-40 f, respectively. In FIGS. 2A-2F, the upper peripheral edge 46 a-46f of the skirt portion 44 a-44 f is congruent with a series ofperforations which together comprise the detaching element 40 a-40 f,respectively.

As noted above, the upper portion 36 of the sleeve 10 may also have anadditional detaching element (not shown) such as a plurality of verticalperforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion 36 and whichare disposed more or less vertically therein extending from thedetaching element 40 to the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10. When thevertical detaching element is present the upper portion 36 of the sleeve10 is separable from the lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10 by tearingthe upper portion 36 along both the vertical perforations and along thedetaching element 40, thereby separating the upper portion 36 from thelower portion 38 of the sleeve 10. The lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10remains disposed as the base portion 42 about the pot 56 and as theskirt portion 44 about the floral grouping 58 which extends from the pot56 forming a decorative cover which substantially surrounds andencompasses the pot 56 and at least a portion of the floral grouping 58.

It will be understood that equipment and devices for forming standardfloral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to aperson of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred method is discussedbelow.

As noted above, the sleeve 10 preferably has a closed lower end 14. Whenthe lower end 14 is closed the lower end 14 may have one or more gussets26 formed therein for allowing expansion of the lower end 14 when anobject with a broad lower end such as the pot 56, is disposed therein.In another version of the present invention the lower end 14 may becompletely or partially open (as shown in FIG. 8). Where used herein theterm “partially open” means that the bottom end of the sleeve 10-10 f ispartially covered with the sleeve material but has at least one openingtherein, for example for allowing drainage.

As noted above, in the preferred version of the present invention, thesleeve 10 comprises an area of bonding material 34 disposed upon aportion at least one of the inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of thebase portion 42 of the sleeve 10. The area of bonding material 34, whenpresent, functions to enable portions of at least one of the innerperipheral surfaces 28 and 30, to be bondingly connected to otherportions of the inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of the sleeve 10 bycrimping therein forming a crimped portion and causing the sleeve 10 tobe secured about the pot 56.

The sleeve 10 is generally provided to the operator in a substantiallyflattened condition and usually as one of a stack of a plurality ofsleeves 10. During the process of covering the pot 56, the sleeve 10 isopened, manually or automatically. In the flattened condition of thesleeve 10, the bonding material 34 may partially adhere or cohere to theopposite inner peripheral surface 28 or 30 of the sleeve 10. Obviously,it is desirable to avoid a situation in which the bonding material 34 ispermanently or strongly bonded to the opposing inner peripheral surface28 or 30 of the sleeve 10 because this would make it difficult for thesleeve 10 to be manually or automatically opened for insertion of thepot 56. As a result, the bonding material 34 may be made of an adhesivecomposition which has a low degree of tackiness such that if the bondingmaterial 34 does adhere to the opposing inner peripheral surface 28 or30 it can be easily separated from the inner peripheral surface 28 or 30when the sleeve 10 is opened up. Such adhesives with low tackiness arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are commerciallyavailable. Further, a release material may be disposed on the bondingmaterial 34 to prevent its adhesion prior to its use.

Alternatively, the bonding material 34 can be composed of a cohesivematerial. In the version of the invention shown in FIG. 1 the cohesiveis applied to only one of the inner peripheral surfaces 28 or 30, thecohesive material will not bond to the opposite inner peripheral surface28 or 30 as long as there is no cohesive material to which it can bondon the opposing inner peripheral surface 28 or 30. In another version ofthe sleeve 10, shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 10 has a bonding material 34disposed on both inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30. The bondingmaterial 34 may be any bonding material as defined herein and the sleeve10 may have a release covering or liner disposed on or between thelayers of bonding material 34 for inhibiting adhesion or cohesion of thebonding material 34 before usage of the sleeve 10 for covering the pot56.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of sleeve 10 taken through thebonding material 34 wherein the bonding material 34 is disposed instrips on opposing inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of the sleeve 10.The strips of bonding material 34 may extend completely from the firstedge 18 of the sleeve 10 to the second edge 20, generally as indicatedin FIG. 4 or they may extend only part of the distance from one edge tothe other. As indicated above, the bonding material 34 may have releaseliners thereover for preventing premature adhesion or cohesion thereof,the release liners indicated in FIG. 5 by reference numeral 50. FIG. 6shows an embodiment wherein the areas of bonding material 34 arestaggered across the inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of the sleeve10 to minimize cohesion or adhesion of the areas of bonding material 34to opposing surfaces.

In yet another version of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 7-10, abonding material 52 is disposed on at least a portion of the outerperipheral surface 16 of the lower portion 38 of a sleeve 10 i.Similarly to the use of sleeve 10, after the pot 56 is disposed in theinner retaining space 32 of the lower portion 38, the sleeve 10 i ismanually or automatically crimped about the outer peripheral surface 59of the pot 56 in the vicinity of the bonding material 52 thereby formingfolds in the lower portion 38 which are bondingly connected together bythe bonding material 52 to secure the sleeve 10 i about the pot 56. Thebonding material 52 is preferably disposed on the sleeve 10 i so as tobe at a position below the upper rim 59 a of the pot 56 when the pot 56is disposed in the lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10 a.

The bonding material 52 may be disposed on only one side 22 or 24 of theouter peripheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 i as shown in FIG. 7 or maybe disposed on both the first and second sides 22 and 24 of the outerperipheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 i as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is across-sectional view taken through the sleeve 10 i of FIG. 8 showing thebonding material 52 on both the first and second sides 22 and 24 of theouter peripheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 i and extendingsubstantially from the first edge 18 to the second edge 20, although itwill be appreciated that the bonding material 52 may extend only part ofthe distance from the first edge 18 to the second edge 20.

As noted above for sleeve 10, the bonding material 52 on sleeve 10 i mayhave a release material 54 disposed thereon such as is shown for examplein FIG. 10.

In an alternate version of the sleeve 10-10 i, disposed upon the upperend portion of the second inner peripheral surface 30 of side 24 is aclosure bonding material (not shown). After the pot 56 is disposedwithin the sleeve 10-10 i, the upper end portion of side 24 with theclosure bonding material disposed thereon can be folded onto an upperend portion of side 22 thereby sealing the upper portion 36 of thesleeve 10-10 i.

In another version of the invention there is a second closure bondingmaterial (not shown) which is disposed upon an upper end portion of side22. When the upper end portion of side 24 having the first closurebonding material is folded over onto side 22, the first closure bondingmaterial bondingly engages the second closure bonding material therebyeffecting a seal in the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10. Preferably, inthis version, the first and second closure bonding materials are bothcohesive materials so that when another sleeve is pressed against thesleeve, neither bonding material will cause the adjacent sleeves to beconnected to each other thereby facilitating the separation of sleeves10 i from the stack.

It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat processes for making standard floral sleeves which have open upperand lower ends are well known. In the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the sleeve 10-10 i is constructed with a closedbottom which may simply comprise a seal along the lower end 14 of thesleeve 10-10 i or more preferably the closed bottom comprises aninfolded portion such as the gusset 26 which when opened enablesexpansion of the bottom of the sleeve 10-10 i for allowing insertion ofthe pot 56 therein.

One version of the apparatus and process used to construct a sleeve asdescribed herein is shown in FIGS. 39-44 and accompanying descriptionsin U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,809, the specification of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

During operation, when the sleeve 10-10 i is opened in anticipation ofdisposing the pot 56 within the inner retaining space 32 thereof, afteropening, the release material 50 or 54, respectively, if present, can beremoved from the space corresponding bonding material 34 or 52 of thesleeve 10-10 i prior to insertion of the pot 56 therein.

Shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B are sleeves 10 and 10 i, respectively, afterthe pot 56 having the floral grouping 58 is disposed therein. FIG. 11Ashows the pot 56 disposed adjacent and facing the bonding material 34 ofthe sleeve 10 and FIG. 11B shows the pot 56 disposed within the sleeve10 i with the bonding material 52 adjacent, yet opposite the outerperipheral surface 59 of the pot 56. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the bonding material 34 is a bonding material such asa cohesive which bonds only to surfaces also having said cohesive.Therefore, the bonding material 34 is not intended to bondingly connectto the outer peripheral surface 59 of the pot 56. Rather, it is intendedthat the sleeve 10 be secured about the pot 56 without bondinglyconnecting to the pot 56 itself. For example, the sleeve 10-10 i may besecured to the pot 56 by the forming of a crimped area 60 in the lowerportion 38 of the sleeve 10-10 i as shown in FIG. 12. The crimped area60 is formed by forming folds 62 in that portion of the sleeve 10-10 ihaving the bonding material 34 or 52. Preferably the lower portion 38 ofthe sleeve 10-10 i is at least slightly larger than the pot 56 so thatthe folds 62 can be formed in the sleeve 10-10 i to secure the sleeveabout the pot 56. At least some of the folds 62 have overlappingportions which are connected by the bonding material 34 or 52 asexplained in more detail below.

Embodiments of FIGS. 13-24

Shown in FIGS. 13-24 are several examples of how folds can be formed inthe lower portion 38 of the sleeve 10-10 i for securing the sleeve 10-10i about the pot 56 without bondingly connecting the sleeve 10-10 i tothe pot 56 itself.

FIG. 13 shows a sleeve 10-10 i having a plurality of folds in which someportions of the folds are connected by a bonding material 34 on theinner peripheral surfaces 28 and/or 30 of the sleeve (sleeve 10 as shownin FIG. 14) or by a bonding material 52 on the outer peripheral surface16 of the sleeve (sleeve 10 i as shown in FIG. 15). FIG. 13 shows aplurality of z-shaped overlapping folds 64 connected by the bondingmaterial (not shown).

Each z-shaped overlapping fold 64 shown in FIGS. 13-15 has an innerportion 66, an outer portion 68 and a middle portion 70 which issandwiched between the inner and outer portions 66 and 68.

FIG. 14 shows an enlargement of a z-shaped overlapping fold 64 whichshows the position of the bonding material 34 disposed on the firstand/or second inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of the sleeve 10-10 hin relation to the overlapping portions of the sleeve 10-10 h. The innerportion 66 is not bonded to the middle portion 70 since there is nobonding material disposed on the outer peripheral surface 16 of thesleeve 10-10 h in this embodiment. The first inner peripheral surface 28of the middle portion 70 faces and is bonded to the first innerperipheral surface 28 of the outer portion 68 of the sleeve 10-10 h viathe bonding material 34 which is disposed on the first and/or secondinner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30 of sleeve 10-10 h. A similar patternis repeated for each corresponding z-shaped fold 64 and for each otherz-shaped fold 64 in the sleeve 10-10 h.

FIG. 15 shows an enlargement of a z-shaped overlapping fold 64 a similarto that of FIG. 14 except that FIG. 15 represents a fold 64 a formed insleeve 10 i having a bonding material 52 disposed on the outerperipheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 i. Fold 64 a has the innerportion 66, the outer portion 68 and the middle portion 70 sandwichedbetween portions 66 and 68. Portion 70 is connected to portion 66 viathe bonding material 52. Portion 68 is not connected to portion 70because there is no bonding material interposed between the twoportions.

FIG. 16 shows yet another manner in which the sleeve 10-10 i may besecured about the pot 56. In this version there are a plurality of folds72 which are similar to the z-shaped folds 64 shown in FIGS. 13-15except that the folds 64 shown in FIGS. 13-15 are positioned as pairs of“mirror image” folds 64 while in FIG. 16 each z-shaped fold 72 occurs,singly and not as one of a distinct pair of adjacent folds 64.

Each fold 72 has the inner portion 66, the outer portion 68 and themiddle portion 70 sandwiched between inner and outer portions 66 and 68,respectively. The outer peripheral surface 16 of the inner portion 66faces the outer peripheral surface 16 of a middle portion 70.

FIG. 17 shows such a fold 72 formed in a sleeve such as sleeve 10-10 hwherein the bonding material 34 is disposed on the first innerperipheral surface 28 of the sleeve 10-10 h. The bonding material 34 isshown disposed on the first inner peripheral surface 28, for exampleonly, and may also be disposed on the second inner peripheral surface 30or both the first and second inner peripheral surfaces 28 and 30.Bonding material 34 touches the outer peripheral surface 59 of the pot56 but does not connect to it because the bonding material 34 ispreferably a cohesive bonding material rather than an adhesive material.In such an embodiment, the first inner peripheral surface 28 of theouter portion 68 is bondingly connected via bonding material 34 to thefirst inner peripheral surface 28 of the middle portion 70, while innerand middle portions 66 and 70 are not bondingly connected. FIG. 18 showsa fold 72 formed in sleeve 10 i having the bonding material 52. Theouter peripheral surface 16 of the inner portion 66 is bondinglyconnected via bonding material 52 to the outer peripheral surface 16 ofthe middle portion 70. The outer portion 68 is not bondingly connectedto the middle portion 70.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show another embodiment of the sleeve 10-10 h crimpedabout the pot 56 comprising a plurality of vertically-oriented folds 74in which portions 76 of the sleeve 10-10 h are pinched together therebyproviding the folds 74 with a U-shaped configuration, extendingoutwardly from the pot 56 and wherein the inner peripheral surfaces ofthe portions 76 of the folds 74 in sleeve 10-10 h which face each otherare bondingly engaged to each other by the bonding material 34 disposedon the inner peripheral surface 28 and/or 30 of the sleeve 10-10 h. Asimilar bonding pattern is repeated for each U-shaped fold 74 in thesleeve 10-10 h.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show another embodiment of the sleeve 10-10 h crimpedabout the pot 56 comprising one or more horizontally-oriented folds 78in which portions 80 of the sleeve 10-10 h are pinched together formingthe folds 78 thereby providing the folds 78 with a U-shapedconfiguration extending outwardly and extending about at least part ofthe circumference of the pot 56. The inner peripheral surfaces 28 and/or30 of the portions 80 of the fold 78 which face each other are bondinglyconnected via the bonding material 34 disposed on the inner surface ofsleeve 10-10 h. The fold 78 in FIG. 22 in an enlargement of the fold 78in FIG. 21 for explicitly showing the connection mode via the bondingmaterial 34.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show another embodiment of the sleeve 10 i crimped aboutthe pot 56 comprising one or more horizontally-oriented folds 82 inwhich portions 84 of the sleeve 10 i are pinched together therebyproviding the folds 82 with an inverted U-shaped configuration wherein atip 86 of the fold 82 extends inwardly toward the outer peripheralsurface 59 of the pot 56 thereby forming an inwardly-oriented ridge 88.The outer peripheral surfaces 16 of the portions 84 of the fold 82 whichface each other are bondingly connected via the bonding material 52disposed on the outer peripheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 i. The fold82 in FIG. 24 is an enlargement of the fold 82 in FIG. 23 for explicitlyshowing the connection made via the bonding material 52.

It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that when thesleeve 10-10 i is crimped about the outer peripheral surface 59 of thepot 56 that a combination of the types of folds shown in FIGS. 14, 17,20 and 22, or other folds not shown herein, may be formed in the sleeve10-10 i, for example, the pinch folds 74 of FIG. 20 may alternate withthe z-shaped folds 64 or 72 of either or both of FIGS. 14 and 17. Itwill be further understood that when the sleeve 10 i is crimped aboutthe pot 56 that a combination of the types of folds shown in FIGS. 15,18 and 24 may be formed in the sleeve 10 i. Also, the sleeve 10-10 i maybe crimped about the pot 56 in other ways which form folds havingconfigurations not shown herein. Moreover, in another embodiment asleeve (not shown) may have a bonding material both on the innerperipheral surface and outer peripheral surface thereof and thus mayhave any or all of the folds mentioned herein simultaneously.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps orthe sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

1. A floral covering, comprising: a flexible tubular sleeve, preformedto have a predetermined tubular shape and initially having a flattenedcondition, the flexible tubular sleeve having a closed lower end, and anupper end, and comprising: a base portion with an outer peripheralsurface, and when opened from the flattened condition having an innerretaining space into which a pot can be disposed, and the base portionhaving an exposed adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon aportion thereof for securing the flexible tubular sleeve about the pot.2. The floral covering of claim 1 further defined as constructed from amaterial having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30mils.
 3. The floral covering of claim 1 further defined as constructedfrom a material selected from the group consisting of treated oruntreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film,cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinationsthereof.
 4. The floral covering of claim 1 wherein the base portion hasa skirt portion extending therefrom.
 5. The floral covering of claim 1wherein the base portion of the floral covering has a cylindrical shape.6. The floral covering of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the floralcovering is tapered.
 7. The floral covering of claim 1 wherein the baseportion of the floral covering is oversized in comparison to the size ofthe pot to be disposed therein.
 8. The floral covering of claim 1wherein the closed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve comprises agusset.
 9. A stack of the floral coverings of claim
 1. 10. The floralcovering of claim 1 having an upper portion which is detachable via adetaching element.
 11. A floral covering, comprising: a flexible tubularsleeve preformed to have a predetermined tubular shape and initiallyhaving a flattened condition, the flexible tubular sleeve having a lowerend and an upper end and comprising: a base portion with a closed lowerend and an outer peripheral surface and when opened from the flattenedcondition having an inner retaining space into which a pot can bedisposed, and the base portion having an exposed adhesive or cohesivebonding material disposed upon a portion thereof for securing theflexible tubular sleeve about the pot; and wherein the base portion isoversized in comparison to the size of the pot to be disposed therein.12. The floral covering of claim 11 further defined as constructed froma material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about30 mil.
 13. The floral covering of claim 11 further defined asconstructed from a material selected from the group consisting oftreated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymericfilm, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinationsthereof.
 14. The floral covering of claim 11 wherein base portionfurther comprises a skirt portion which extends therefrom.
 15. Thefloral covering of claim 11 wherein the base portion of the floralcovering has a cylindrical shape.
 16. The floral covering of claim 11wherein the base portion of the floral covering is tapered.
 17. Thefloral covering of claim 11 wherein the closed lower end comprises agusset.
 18. A stack of the floral coverings of claim
 11. 19. The floralcovering of claim 11 having an upper portion which is detachable via adetaching element.